Royals at sea: Long live the royal yacht?

Updated 11:42 AM ET, Wed June 5, 2013

Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Spanish sacrifice – With Spain's unemployment rate at more than 27%, the country's royal family has decided to give up their $27 million luxury yacht in an act of solidarity with their struggling citizens. The yacht, called "Fortuna", has hosted dignitaries from around the world. Here, Prince Felipe of Spain is pictured sailing the "Aifos" yacht during the 31st Copa del Rey Regatta in Palma de Mallorca last year.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Rule Britannia – Two of those foreign dignitaries to jump aboard the Spanish royal family's yacht were Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1990. But the British royals weren't without their own luxury vessel. Here, the pair are pictured celebrating their honeymoon on "Her Majesty's Yacht (HMY) Britannia" in 1981.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Queen's pride – There are probably few finer examples of a regal leisure boat than "Her Majesty's Yacht (HMY) Britannia," (pictured) commissioned in 1953 for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Once described by Her Majesty as "the one place where I can truly relax," the royal vessel was built to many of the queen's specifications.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Long live the royal yacht? – The royal barge, "the Spirit of Chartwell," was the last in a long line of 83 British royal yachts, dating back to 1660. Today, she is a tourist attraction which played a starring role in the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, including appearances from Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Sea style – Four royal honeymoons have taken place on the "HMY Britannia", but Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips (pictured) was instead happy to soak up the sunshine on board during a pre-wedding bash to Rugby player Mike Tindall in 2011.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Ship-shape – For decades, the Britannia was an integral part of royal transportation. Here, a crowd bids farewell to the yacht as she transports Prince Charles and Princess Anne to Tobruk, to join their parents on the last stage of the Commonwealth Tour in 1954.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Grimaldi glamour – When American screen star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, newspapers were filled with images of the glamorous couple honeymooning on board their 44-meter yacht -- given to them by Greek shipping merchant Aristotle Onassis. The boat was named M/Y Grace, after her highness.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Albert aboard – Prince Albert II of Monaco has continued his father's love of yachts. Though these days they come a lot bigger, with the nation state playing host to the annual Monaco yacht show -- featuring the biggest superyachts in the world.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Long live the royal yacht? – The Danish royal family still enjoy summer holidays aboard their enormous 78-meter yacht Dannebrog, with Prince Frederik, Princess Mary and their children Prince Christian and Princess Isabella of Denmark pictured here in their finest nautical attire.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Great Dane – Commissioned in 1932, the Dannebrog (pictured carrying Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik) has traveled more than 400,000 nautical miles and also carries out search and rescue operations, when at sea.

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

People's present – The Spanish royal family may feel under pressure to give up their ship, but in Norway it's the people who buy the luxury boats for their royals. In 1947, the Norwegian people purchased K/S Norge as a 75th birthday present for their beloved King Haakon VII. Today it is still used by royal family members including Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured).

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Long live the royal yacht?12 photos

Long live the royal yacht? – The United Arab Emirates' Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the proud owner of the world's second-largest yacht -- somewhat unimaginatively named "Dubai". Here, he speaks with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands aboard his $300 million luxury vessel.